In London, there’s a place that most people don’t pay much attention to—a small, unassuming basement entrance near Hyde Park. This space had been abandoned for years, and, long ago, it was once a public restroom.

That was more than six years ago, and during that time, it was closed off, visited only by the occasional stray animal in need of shelter. It would have likely stayed that way if it hadn’t been spotted by Laura Clark, a young and ambitious architect.

As soon as Laura saw the space, she knew she had to have it. The terrible condition didn’t deter her: the walls were crumbling, there was debris everywhere, and the floors showed traces of all the stray animals that had found refuge there.

Most people wouldn’t have felt anything but disgust for a place like this, but Laura still wanted to buy it. Her creative intuition told her that even a mess like this could be transformed into something remarkable. All it would take was a little effort.

The underground restroom had been closed since 1980, meaning it hadn’t been used by the public for over thirty years. Laura thought it would be a great idea to turn it into a public space, like a café or bar.

But she had to adjust her plans. After many discussions with city officials, Laura realized that opening a public establishment in a former restroom was more complicated than she’d anticipated. So, she decided instead to turn the space into an ideal apartment.

None of Laura’s friends appreciated her intentions. They thought she was out of her mind, insisting that no one would want to live in such a place.

But Laura didn’t care what they thought. She got to work, doing most of it herself and only occasionally asking friends for help.

Laura brought in outside specialists only when she absolutely needed them, when she realized that she truly needed extra help. It was important to her to do as much of the work herself as possible, and she did an incredible job!

The project cost Laura around $65,000. This budget covered the purchase of the space, all renovation expenses, and legal consultations. It was a considerable amount, though not as high as it might seem.

In London, buying an apartment this size for that price would be impossible. In fact, Laura saved quite a bit by transforming the old restroom; purchasing an apartment would have cost her five times more, if not more.

People who see the renovated space can’t believe it was ever a restroom. The “before” and “after” are so dramatically different that it’s hard to imagine it’s the same place.

Laura herself says the outcome surprised her, too. The apartment turned out far better than she’d expected—a reward for all the effort she put in.

If you didn’t know, you’d never guess that stray animals once roamed here, with trash lying around everywhere.

The space has transformed beyond recognition, and even those who saw it before can hardly believe their eyes now.

Laura’s friends no longer criticize her decision; on the contrary, they envy her beautiful apartment.

Laura has since added this project to her portfolio. It’s the best project she has in it.